Worthing Raiders snared by CS Stags

It was a very disappointing result after Raiders had plenty of quality possession in attacking areas of the pitch, which should have led to more tries.

But they were guilty of missing tackles and making too many unforced errors, which eventually lost them the game.

It was game six of the campaign in London against a Stags side who, like Raiders, have had a slow start to the season and are at the wrong end of the table.

Ed Hartley and Jake Howe were out injured and replaced by Tom Sanderson and Diogo Pina. Max Ravaudet returned to the bench.

Stags kicked off and were immediately on the attack after Raiders failed to secure the ball. Within three minutes the hosts had scored an unconverted try, and Raiders hadn’t touched the ball. Pina had to be replaced after five minutes by Sanderson due to injury.

Undeterred, Raiders got on the front foot when the forwards won a penalty at a Stags’ scrum. The hosts gave away another penalty and Tom Meyer kicked to touch 5m from the try line.

The ensuing lineout produced a maul that was able to drive over the goal line for skipper Elliott Luke to touch down. Sanderson hit the post with the conversion. but it was 5-5.

The game was evenly balanced but the visitors were doing most of the attacking. The Raiders’ forwards were going well, as demonstrated by a catch and drive that took the opposition back 20m.

Raiders had plenty of territory and possession but weren’t able to make it count until the 30th minute when a catch and drive produced a try for Leo Ravaudet.

With the conversion going narrowly past the posts, the visitors had a 5-10 lead.

Raiders were attacking inside Stags’ 22 but were penalised for a not-straight throw in at the lineout, Stags used the ball to go 70m to score a converted try, 12-10, and the hosts scored again within moments which gave them a 17-10 interval lead.

Raiders restarted after the break but the hosts scored an unconverted try to extend their lead to 22-10. The visitors built up a head of steam and threatened the Stags’ line but couldn’t break through for a score. The coaches made changes for tactical reasons and injuries.

A fine box kick by Stan Keats went to touch 5m from the hosts’ try line. This looked a real chance to close the gap but again they were unable to break down Stags’ defence.

When Raiders gave away a penalty in front of their own post the hosts kicked the penalty and extend their lead to 25-10.

Stags gave away a couple of penalties in quick succession, allowing Raiders to have a lineout a short distance from their try line. A catch and drive was instigated and Ravaudet touched down for his second try. The conversion was unsuccessful – 25-15.

Raiders looked good at times but too often let themselves down with basic errors and so it was at the restart from Ravaudet’s try , when they failed to catch the ball and the hosts took full advantage and scored a converted try to stretch their lead to 32-15.

The visitors had the chance to close the gap when they had a multi-phase attack within inches of the line but they were unable to produce the score they needed.

The home side, having soaked up the pressure, then broke out and scored another try which was unconverted, bringing the score to 37-15.